No More Arrogant Leaders?

In the last couple of weeks we have been witness to some extraordinary happenings around the world. South Sudan has voted for independence, and regular people in Tunisia and Egypt have taken to the streets in protest of authoritarian rule in their countries. Despite their best efforts the government have been unable to totally shut down communication through social media in Egypt. Perhaps most extraordinarily, today I watched uncut video footage on YouTube of members of the Egyptian army who had been sent out to calm the crowds actually placing their tanks between the protesters and the police force.

In Zephaniah 3, God promises that at some point in the future, “I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders. No more pious strutting on my holy hill!” I think we can all agree that the day can hardly come too soon! One might however wonder with what we will be left when they, and perhaps some of us among them, are gone? Does this mean that we will be without leaders, or that honest, humble and competent leaders will appear to take their places?

We don’t know what the future really holds for our world. But further along in Zephaniah 3 we read that what will be left is a core of people among the rest of us who, “will not do wrong. They won’t lie, won’t use words to flatter or seduce. Content with who they are and where they are, unanxious, they’ll live at peace.”